Wright City May Adopt Formal Water Conservation Plan

In the face of the ongoing severe drought conditions, Wright City officials are considering adopting a formal water conservation plan.

Aldermen reviewed a proposed policy at last Thursday’s board meeting, though they did not take any action on it.

The plan would establish three stages under which the city could combat possible water shortage issues on an emergency basis by placing restrictions on water customers.

Public Works Director Larry Janish said the city recently received a call from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources asking if a formal policy was in place. Since one was not, it was recommended the city consider doing so.

“We thought this might be a good use,” Janish said. “You don’t have to make a decision on this tonight, but it’s up to you. You can look it over.”

Karen Girondo, the city’s economic development director/treasurer, said she found many other municipalities have a formal policy.

The city has been asking residents and businesses to reduce their water consumption on a voluntary basis since July 3. Two other local cities, Warrenton and Truesdale, also are currently following voluntary conservation measures.

Under the proposed policy presented by Janish, the first voluntary stage would ask the city’s water customers, on a voluntary basis, to conserve water as much as possible. Some of the recommended actions include not washing vehicles or exterior surfaces, filling swimming pools, or flushing of water mains by water department employees.

A second voluntary stage would prohibit watering lawns, except from a hand-held hose or container, and would ask commercial and industrial customers to reduce their water consumption by 30 percent.

Should mandatory restrictions need to be followed, all of the voluntary measures will remain in effect and large commercial and industrial customers will be asked to reduce their usage by 50 percent.

Any of the stages could be implemented immediately depending on the severity of a water shortage, according to the proposed policy.